Photo by Devin Leigh Photography

Contact Me

Well hello there!

I’m Jessi, and I am Southern Illinois Social Media, or soillsocial.

I’m a Midwest Millennial Mama trying to save our little towns and locally-owned businesses through social media promotion.

I am a tourism-focused content creator and coordinator. That means I create content for the hospitality and travel industries, as well as manage social media accounts for businesses.

Whether is it showcasing a new restaurant, hidden gem of an AirBNB, annual event, or sharing product links on how to make your trip easier, I want to help you have the best adventure!

My focus is encouraging tourism to and from Southern Illinois, where I am located. I want to show my neighbors cool places in the Heartland, and I want folks from those places to visit us, too.

Check out my blogs, Instagram, and SHRPA to see where our adventures have taken us recently.

My Amazon Storefront has shoppable links of recommended products. Looking for a discount code? Head over to my affiliate page.

  • My background

    I have worked in a wide variety of industries, which has helped to understand the challenges, struggles, and functions of almost every field.

    My first career path was Legal Administration, where I spent six years in assisting for lawyers and Judges.

    I began Social Media Coordination in 2017, for non-profit organizations. After being awarded a conference grant for my work, I realized I had the passion and skill to help organizations or businesses with their online presence, as well as a natural talent for grant writing. I attended McKendree University from 2019 - 2020 for Public Relations and Marketing.

    Due to COVID, I decided it was time to come home and take care of my family. In 2020, I joined the Carterville Library. Within a year, I was awarded five grants, and one conference scholarship. Through my work as a librarian, I have established a wide directory of local contacts, vendors, and resources. My love of knowledge means I am always researching the latest media and marketing trends.

    It was during my work for the Williamson County Tourism Bureau (visitSI) that the need for social media consulting in Southern Illinois was brought to my attention. While reviewing the social media pages of Williamson County attractions, I realized there were many businesses that needed guidance on how to create and cultivate their online presence.

    In talking with these businesses, it became clear they were unable to hire a dedicated Social Media Manager, and were too overwhelmed to coordinate themselves. Thus, the idea for Southern Illinois Social Media was born.

    • AA from John A. Logan College

    • Attended SIUC for Paralegal Studies

    • Attended McKendree University for Public Relations and Marketing, minor in Organizational Leadership

  • Grants

    • ARSL Angel Scholarship (2022)

    • Oberman Rich Reaching Forward Conference Grant/Scholarship for Outstanding Support Staff (2019)

    • Project Next Generation - Illinois State Library (2021 & 2022)

    • Expanding Digital Inclusion (2022)

    • ALA Libraries Transforming Communities (2021 & 2022)